Doll

ABSTRACT

A doll hollow body includes a turnable head having an opening in its top and a lock of hair extends through the opening and is retracted by a rubber band extending between the lock of hair and a leg outer end. The lock of hair passes through a pair of eccentric openings in superimposed clamp plates in the head; one plate being affixed to the torso and the other to the head so that turning of the head opens and closes the aperture delineated by the plate openings to alternatively lock or release the lock of hair. A stop is provided to limit the maximum extension of the hair.

United States Patent Suchowski 1 Dec. 5, 1972 15 1 DOLL 3,162,976 12/1964 Beebe et al ..46/172 ent e rd sucho ski, Howard Beach LlllCnStGl'l'l [73] Assignee: Alsu Development Corporation,

Queens County, N.Y.

[22] Filed: July 1, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 51,486

Peterson "46/22 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold Attorney-Stanley Wolder ABSTRACT A doll hollow body includes a tumable head having an opening in its top and a lock of hair extends through the opening and is retracted by a rubber band extending between the lock of hair and a leg outer end. The lock of hair passes through a pair of eccentric openings in superimposed clamp plates in the head; one plate being affixed to the torso and the other to the head so that turning of the head opens and closes the aperture delineated by the plate openings to alternatively lock or release the lock of hair. A stop is provided to limit the maximum extension of the hair.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBEB 5 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 2 INVENTOR BY 9 U,

ATTORNEY DOLL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to improvements in toys and it relatesmore particularly to an im-. proved doll manikin toy figure or the like, provided with hair of an adjustable length.

It is a common practice-in toys such .as dolls and the i like to provide the toy with properties which characterize the real subject or which alter or vary the appearance of the toy, particularly where the toy is a doll. Among these characteristics is the length of the hair of the doll and many structures and mechanisms have been proposed which permit the adjustment of the length of the dolls hair. However these mechanisms and structures possess numerous drawbacks and disadvantages. They are unreliable and difficult to operate, are frequently complicated and costly, of little versatili-' ty and adaptability and otherwise leave much to be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved toy of the nature of a doll manikin or.

provide a doll' mechanism of the above nature characterized by its reliability, ease of operation, versatility, adaptability, simplicity and low cost.

The above andother objects of the presentinve ntion will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof.

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of a doll comprising a body member having a cavity therein and an opening providing access to said cavity, a lock of hair extending from said cavity through said opening and movable between an extended position and a retracted position, means located in said cavity for urging said lock of hair toward its retracted position, and externally operable means located within said cavity for releasably locking said lock of hair in a preselected extended position.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the mechanism for urging the lock of .hair to its retracted position in .a hollow body doll which includes an elastic member having one end connected to the leg of the doll and another end engaging the lock of=hair.

In its preferred form the improveddollincludes interconnected hollow head, torso and leg members, the head member having an opening in its top through which a lock of hair looped at its inner end, projects. A rubber band engages the inner end of the lock of hair and is anchored to the outer end of the leg member,

being tension relieved when the lock is in a retracted condition with a short length thereof projecting through the head opening. The head is turnable in the torso and the hair locking means includes a first horizontal clamp plate fixed to the torso and a second horizontal clamp plate superimposed on the first plate and connected to and rotatable with the head. The clamp plates have openings formed therein which are eccentric to he head turning axis and define an aperture which opens and closes with the turning of the head, the hair passing through the aperture and being selectively alternatively locked or clamped and released or unclamped with the turning of the doll head and the respective opening and closing of the aperture.

The improved mechanism for adjusting the length of thehair in a doll or. the like is simple, rugged, reliable and inexpensive and highly versatile and easy to operate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view, partially in section, of a doll embodying the present invention, the hair being illustrated in a locked extended position;

FIG. 1A is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the doll head portion with the hair shown in fully extended position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, the doll head being shown turned to a hair release position;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the head; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary view of the hair retracting mechanism shown in a fully retracted condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved doll which comprises a body member 11 which is hollow and of generally conventional construction, except as will be hereinafter described. The body mernberll includes a hollow torso section 12 having a pair of arms 13 and a pair of hollow legs 14 articulated to the upper and lower portions thereof in the usual manner. Thus torso section 12 has inclined annular lips 16 delineating opposite openings 17 at the bottom sides thereof and each leg 14 is provided with an inwardly directed peripheral flange 18 having a peripheral groove formed in the outer face thereof which engages a corresponding lip 16 to provide a rotatable coupling between the lips 16 and flanges 18.

Integrally formed with and projecting upwardly from neck portion 19 of torso section 12 is an upwardly tapering tubular post 20 having at its bottom a downwardly facing peripheral shoulder 21 which delineates the post 20 from the neck 19. The top of post 20 is closed by a circular, concentric integrally formed wall 22 projecting beyond the upper periphery of post 20 in a circumferential lip 23.

A hollow head 24 of suitable configuration is mounted atop neck 19 and has a circular opening formed in the bottom thereof, the post 20 projecting mama mm into head 24 through the bottom opening to a point between the top and bottom of head 24. The post shoulder 21 engages the inside surface of head 24 bordering the bottom opening therein to lock the head 24 against separation from neck 19 while permitting the relative turning thereof. An opening 26 is formed in the top of head 24 in vertical alignment with the bottom opening therein and coaxial with the post 20.

A movable locking or clamp member 27 is mounted atop post and includes a circular plate 28 superimposed upon and coinciding with wall 22 and is provided with a depending integral skirt wall 29 terminating in an inwardlydirected peripheral lip 30 engaging the underface of lip 23 to restrict any vertical movement of clamp member 27 while permitting the rotation thereof on wall 22, Projecting radially outwardly from clamp plate 28 are a pair of alignedopposite arms 32 which terminate in integrally formed pins 33 of reduced crosssection engaging corresponding openings in the side walls of head 24, the free ends of pins 33 having enlarged heads 34 abutting the outer face of head 24.

A first circular opening 36 is formed inelamp plate 28 forwardly offset by a predetermined amount relative to the center of plate 28 and a second circular opening 37 of the same diameter as opening 36 is formed in top wall 22 and is laterally offset to the right in the illustrated embodiment as viewed in FIG. 2, when the face of head 22 is directed forwardly by an amount equal to the offset of opening 36. Thus when head 24 is turned 90 to a left facing position, as seen in FIG. 3, clamp member defining wall and plate 22 and 28 are in their open position with openings 36 and 37 coinciding to delineate a fully open clamp aperture. As the head 24 is turned toward its forward facing position, opening 36 is moved out of coincidence with opening 37 to close the clamp aperture as shown inFlG. 2.

A natural or artificiallock of hair 39 is folded about its medial axis to form an inner loop 40 which is positioned within body member 11 below post wall 22 and the free outer end of lock 39 projects through clamp openings 36 and 37 and head opening 26 to beyond the top face of head 24. An elongated elastic or elastimeric member, for example a closed ringrubber band 41, has one end attached to the hair lock looped end 40, for example by passing one end 42 of rubber band 4l through hair loop 40 and threading the rubber band other end 43 through rubber band looped end 42 and pulling the remainder of rubber band 41 therethrough.

An anchor member 44 is located in the base 46 of the foot section of leg 14 and includes a circular button 47 which tightly engages a circular opening in the foot section base 46 and an inwardly projecting peripheral flange 48 formed integral with base 46 and bordering the opening therein, overlies the inside peripheral border of button 47 to prevent the inward movement thereof. A hook element 49 or other suitable anchor element projects inwardly from button 47 and,engages and retains the rubber band lower end 43.

A stop defining circular button 50 of greater diameter than openings 17 and 37 has a central opening which engages the lock of hair 39 proximate loop 40 and is of a size which prevents the passage of the rubber band engaged looped end therethrough. The maximum extension of the lock of hair 39 through head opening 26 is limited by stop button 50 abutting the underface of post wall 22 to prevent the complete passage of loop 40 through opening 37. The use of rubber band 41 as a hair retraction member with one end thereof anchored to the outer end or foot section of leg member 14 by means of button 47 facilitates the anchoring of the inner end of rubber band 41 to a point most remote from the head opening 26 and provides for a maximum possible retraction of the hair by the rubber band 41 along a relatively linear path with a minimum of wear, stress or abrasion.

The improved .doll may be formed of any suitable material such as the synthetic organic polymeric resins, and may be molded and assembled in the known manner. Moreover, the doll may 'be provided with many other mechanisms commonly associated with dolls and may simulate any desired figure. Furthermore, additional hair which may be of a nonextensible nature may be attached to the head of the doll.

The operation of the improved adjustable hair mechanism is clear from the above. If it is desired to adjust the extension of the lock of hair 39, the head 24 is turned from its front facing hair locking position toward the left or counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2, to the position shown in FIG. 3 or to a position wherein the aperture delineated by overlapping openings 36 and 37 is sufficient-to permit the free passage of the lock of hair 39. The lock of hair 39 is then adjusted to the desired length by pulling it outwardly against the pull of rubber band 41 to stretch the latter or by permitting it to be pulled inwardly by rubber band 41, and the lock of hair 39 is then clamped and locked in the adjusted position by returning head 24 to its forwardly facing position whereby to rotate clamp plate 28 to bring openings 36 and 37 to a small overlap with the opposing edges of the delineated aperture clamping the lock of hair 39 therebetween, and preventing the longitudinal movement thereof.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

lclaim: 1

l. A doll comprising a body member having a cavity therein and an opening providing access to said cavity and including a hollow torso member and a hollow head member mounted atop said torso member and tumable about a vertical axis relative thereto, a lock of hair extending from said cavity through said opening and movable between an extended position and a retracted position, means located in said cavity for urging said lock of hair toward its retracted position, and means located within said cavity for releasably locking said lock of hair in a preselected extended position and being responsive to the turning of said head relative to said torso member for locking and releasing said lock of hair.

2. The doll of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a clamp registering with said lock of hair and including a first clamp member connected to said torso member and a second clamp member connected to said head member and movable therewith relative to said first clamp member between open and closed positions.

3. The doll of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a clamp registering with said lock of hair and includes a first horizontal clamp plate affixed to said torso member and having a first opening therein and a second horizontal clamp plate superimposed on said first clamp plate and affixed to said head member and turnable therewith and having a second opening therein registering with said first opening and delineating therewith a clamping aperture varying in size with the turning of said head member relative to said torso member, said lock of hair engaging said clamping aperture.

4. The doll of claim 3 wherein said first and second openings are transversely offset relative to the turning axis of said head member.

5. The doll of claim 1 wherein said body member comprises a hollow leg member and said retracting means comprises an elongated elastic member engaging said lock of hair and anchored to a point within a leg member.

6. A doll comprising a hollow body member and including a head member having an opening therein, a torso member and leg members, a lock of hair extending through said opening and movable between a retracted and extended position relative to the interior of said body member and having an outer end disposed externally of said body member and an inner end disposed within said body member, and an elongated elastomeric member having an inner end connected to the outer end of said leg member and an opposite outer end connected to the inner end of said lock of hair to normally urge said lock of hair toward a retracted position.

7. The doll of claim 6 wherein said elastomeric member comprises a closed loop rubber band and said lock of hair is looped at its inner end and engaged by said rubber band.

8. The doll of claim 6 including means for limiting the outward movement of said lock of hair to a predetermined extended position.

9. The doll of claim 6 including means within said body member for releasably locking said lock of hair in a preselected extended position.

mama 0045 

1. A doll comprising a body member having a cavity therein and an opening providing access to said cavity and including a hollow torso member and a hollow head member mounted atop said torso member and turnable about a vertical axis relative thereto, a lock of hair extending from said cavity through said opening and movable between an extended position and a retracted position, means located in said cavity for urging said lock of hair toward its retracted position, and means located within said cavity for releasably locking said lock of hair in a preselected extended position and being responsive to the turning of said head relative to said torso member for locking and releasing said lock of hair.
 2. The doll of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a clamp registering with said lock of hair and including a first clamp member connected to said torso member and a second clamp member connected to said head member and movable therewith relative to said first clamp member between open and closed positions.
 3. The doll of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a clamp registering with said lock of hair and includes a first horizontal clamp plate affixed to said torso member and having a first opening therein and a second horizontal clamp plate superimposed on said first clamp plate and affixed to said head member and turnable therewith and having a second opening therein registering with said first opening and delineating therewith a clamping aperture varying in size with the turning of said head member relative to said torso member, said lock of hair engaging said clamping aperture.
 4. The doll of claim 3 wherein said first and second openings are transversely offset relative to the turning axis of said head member.
 5. The doll of claim 1 wherein said body member comprises a hollow leg member and said retracting means comprises an elongated elastic member engaging said lock of hair and anchored to a point within a leg member.
 6. A doll comprising a hollow body member and including a head member having an opening therein, a torso member and leg members, a lock of hair extending through said opening and movable between a retracted and extended position relative to the interior of said body member and having an outer end disposed externally of said body member and an inner end disposed within said body member, and an elongated elastomeric member having an inner end connected to the outer end of said leg member and an opposite outer end connected to the inner end of said lock of hair to normally urge said lock of hair toward a retracted position.
 7. The doll of claim 6 wherein said elastomeric member comprises a closed loop rubber band and said lock of hair is looped at its inner end and engaged by said rubber band.
 8. The doll of claim 6 including means for limiting the outward movement of said lock of hair to a predetermined extended position.
 9. The doll of claim 6 including means within said body member for releasably locking said lock of hair in a preselected extended position. 